Coyotes goalie Mike Smith not a Vezina finalist
Apr 25, 2012, 3:32 PM | Updated: 4:47 pm
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the top
goaltender in the NHL as determined by a vote of the 30
league general managers.
And while he had an excellent season, Coyotes netminder
Mike Smith is not among the three finalists.
Smith, who set career-best marks with 38 wins, a .930 save
percentage and 2.21 goals against average, will watch one
of Henrik Lundqvist, Jonathan Quick or Pekka Rinne get the
coveted award.
Quick, of the Los Angeles Kings, and Lundqvist, of the New
York Rangers, would be tough to argue against. They each
posted sub-2.00 goals against averages, similar identical
save percentages as Smith and won nearly as many games.
However Rinne, who plays for the Nashville Predators (who
happen to be the ‘Yotes second-round opponent), trailed
Smith in both save percentage and goals against average,
and tallied fewer shutouts, too.
He did, though, lead the league in shots faced and total
saves, so there is that.
As for Smith, it is not like he needed any extra
motivation on the ice, as he’s been fantastic for the
Coyotes in his first year with the team.
As such, he’s carried them not only to the Stanley Cup
Playoffs, but to the second round as well. While the
Vezina Trophy would be nice, Smith is 12 wins away from
getting to hold the trophy he likely really wants
to win.
